Share

United handed Belgian test

The winners advance to the Champions League group stage, which contains 32 teams from across Europe.

Advertisement

Manchester United will face Club Brugge in the Champions League play-off round as Louis van Gaal’s side bid to enter the group stages.

First-leg matches will be played on August 18/19 with the resturn games on August 25/26.

If Valencia progresses, Spain would become the first nation to have five teams in the group stage – by winning last season’s Europa League, Sevilla gained an automatic Champions League berth.

Brugge finished top of the Belgian league last season but were second in the title play-offs, reports Efe. They play their home games in the 29,472 seater Jan Breydel Stadium in the Belgian city of Bruges. Many feel that this is the best side the club has ever put together, so it’s time for Maccabi Tel-Aviv to put up or shut up on the grandest stage in football – but first, they have to win their playoff tie. United are one of the biggest clubs in the world and they are back where they belong.

New signings in Australian winger Bernie Ibeni-Isei and Turkish goalkeeper Sinan Bolat will also hope to feature.

Manchester United are facing Club Brugge and Shakthar Donetsk are traveling to Austrian side Rapid, in matches where clear favourites can be easily seen. Fellaini began his senior career at Standard Liege while Januzaj was an Anderlecht player.

Advertisement

Club Brugge were the strongest attacking team in Belgium last season, scoring 69 goals during the normal campaign followed by an additional 16 scores in the play-offs.

Celtic manager Ronny Deila celebrates with Craig Gordon at full-time in Baku last night